"Transsiberian" *** (out of ****)"Transsiberian" didn't play very long in theatres unfortunately. I can't think of a good reason why audiences just didn't seem interested to watch it. Hopefully, now that it is released on DVD, viewers will get the movie a chance.
The basic plot of the film involves an American couple (Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer) who have been in China helping children through a church program. They are now headed back home and have decided to go by train. It is their first time abroad and they figured if they go by train rather than plane they will be able to take in more sights. So they board the Transsiberian, which takes them from China to Russia.
"Transsiberian" becomes a suspense film as a possible heroine smuggler may have been murdered and the couple may know something about it. As a detective (Ben Kingsley) searches for the truth.
Whenever you have murder and a train two things will instantly come to mind. Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes" and "Murder on the Orient Express". There is something about trains going hand and hand with murder.
One of the first things the viewer hears is the church director thank the volunteers by telling them the world is full on contrast. There is also a choice in life between right and wrong, black and white. But concludes "with faith, the choice is an easy one." The audience knows these words are going to take on great significance as the film goes on.
After having reviewed the French thriller "Lemming" recently, here is a movie that does what that film didn't. "Transsiberian" does a good job creating suspense and making us truly care about this couple; Roy (Harrelson) and Jessie (Mortimer). They seem to find themselves digging a bigger and bigger hole for themselves as they keep lying to the police trying to protect themselves and the would-be smuggler's girlfriend, a young girl, Abby (Kate Mara), who they fear may be in danger.
I first became aware of Mortimer when I saw her in the British comedy "Bright Young Things" but she didn't seem to really breakthrough with that film. I don't think it was until she appeared in Woody Allen's "Match Point" that things started to happen for her. And like "Match Point" and a few other Allen films ("Crimes and Misdemeanors", "Cassandra's Dream") Mortimer finds herself in another film about moral responsibility of murder. "Transsiberian" doesn't dwell on the issue the same way Allen would have but there are hints of it suggested. We think back to the church directors words. We always have a choice. If you do the wrong thing we must live with the choices we have made. Roy and Jessie by the end of this film are going to have a lot on their minds.
As far as the acting goes who really managed to impressed me was Ben Kingsley. Exactly how talented is this guy? Does anyone know? Here is a man who seems to be able to play any character. He was Ghandi, he played an ex Iranian soldier ("House of Sand & Fog), a Polish-American ("You Kill Me") and now a Russian. In addition to which he has acted in one of my favorite films of the year so far "Elegy", where he has given a performance which should bring him an Oscar nomination.
Kingsley plays the character as a complete mystery. We can never tell which side of the law he is really on. He seems to know too much yet says very little. Is he really out to help Roy and Jessie find this smuggler because it is his job or does he want to find him for more personal reasons?
While Harrelson and Mortimer are good in the film, I think she fares better, I sometimes couldn't help think perhaps they are wrong for the roles. Harrelson doesn't seem to fit his character as a straight laced religious man. Mortimer doesn't seem to show scares of being a wild party girl trying to reform her life.
The film was directed by Brad Anderson, who has mostly done TV work, directing a few episodes of "The Wire" and "The Shield". It was co-written by Anderson and Will Conroy, who has only written one of movie, a short film directed by Vincent D'Onofrio entitled "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles". Given their lack of experience the team still managed to write a pretty solid screenplay. Everything seems to fit together nicely and though the movie is close to two hours it all goes by fast.
I'm not sure how much of an audience will seek this film but it is worth watching if for any reason just to see Ben Kingsley on-screen.
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